Marine Cpl Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge
Donation protected
Marine Cpl Erik H. Silva, 22, of Holtville, California, was killed in action in Iraq on April 3, 2003. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
To honor Erik's life, his family, the City of Holtville, The American Legion Bradley Keffer Post 138 and The American Legion Auxiliary Bradley Keffer Unit 138 Holtville, collaborated to have a local, state owned bridge named after Erik.
This measure would designate the Alamo River Bridge on the Evan Hewes Highway (State Route 115) at the entry to the City of Holtville, California, as the Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge.
The Department of Transportation determined the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation to cost $6,640, and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, WE WILL erect Erik's signs.
Please consider donating in Erik's name. Erik fought for our freedoms, and now we have the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to Erik and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, by a simple act of kindness.
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 37 (ACR-37) Chapter 121 was signed on July 23, 2019, by Governor Gavin Newsom.
To read the Bill, please go to https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200ACR37
Erik's bio:
Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva was born on September 10, 1980, in Brawley, California, and grew up in the City of Holtville, California, an agricultural town located in California’s Imperial Valley where he graduated from Holtville High School in 1998.
Erik was known as a quiet, friendly, well-liked kid who played the trumpet in the band, and was a member of the varsity golf team, a soccer player, and a drum major his last two years of high school.
Marine Corporal Silva, an infantry rifleman, died in combat when his platoon was ambushed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Marine Corporal Silva was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
The last time Erik visited his hometown, the 22-year-old Marine attended the town’s annual carrot festival and got a special blessing from his 72-year old grandmother, Rebeca Silva, who kissed him and said a prayer with him.
Erik was the youngest of four children and was the third sibling to serve in the United States Armed Forces with his older brother Isaac Silva serving a total of 12 years in the United States Air Force and the California Army National Guard while his older sister Gloria Silva served 10 years in the United States Navy.
Erik also had numerous uncles and aunts who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. Erik’s greatest accomplishments are numerous, yet include leading the Holtville Viking Band of Pride as the drum major. Outside of high school, Erik was involved in his church youth group, was an altar server, and when he wasn’t playing baseball, you could see him coaching with his best friends during little league.
Erik’s love for baseball went beyond coaching on the field–one day Erik came to see his nephew Ocean playing in a little league game when he noticed that there was a child that did not have a glove or cleats. The next week, when Erik came to visit from Camp Pendleton, California, he had a new pair of cleats and a brand new glove for that child.
Erik was loved and is missed by all in the community of the City of Holtville. There is not a day that goes by that his name is not mentioned by someone who lives there; his best friends still reside in the City of Holtville and they keep Erik’s memory alive. Erik is survived by his parents, his two older brothers, and an older sister.
Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva was just 22 years old and nearly six months short of completing his first enlistment before being honorably discharged to then seek a career with the Department of the California Highway Patrol; his love for God, family, country, and the United States Marine Corps was small in comparison as to who Erik was as a person.
God bless Erik and his family, and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for America's freedoms.
To honor Erik's life, his family, the City of Holtville, The American Legion Bradley Keffer Post 138 and The American Legion Auxiliary Bradley Keffer Unit 138 Holtville, collaborated to have a local, state owned bridge named after Erik.
This measure would designate the Alamo River Bridge on the Evan Hewes Highway (State Route 115) at the entry to the City of Holtville, California, as the Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva Memorial Bridge.
The Department of Transportation determined the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation to cost $6,640, and, upon receiving donations from non-state sources covering that cost, WE WILL erect Erik's signs.
Please consider donating in Erik's name. Erik fought for our freedoms, and now we have the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to Erik and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, by a simple act of kindness.
Assembly Concurrent Resolution 37 (ACR-37) Chapter 121 was signed on July 23, 2019, by Governor Gavin Newsom.
To read the Bill, please go to https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200ACR37
Erik's bio:
Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva was born on September 10, 1980, in Brawley, California, and grew up in the City of Holtville, California, an agricultural town located in California’s Imperial Valley where he graduated from Holtville High School in 1998.
Erik was known as a quiet, friendly, well-liked kid who played the trumpet in the band, and was a member of the varsity golf team, a soccer player, and a drum major his last two years of high school.
Marine Corporal Silva, an infantry rifleman, died in combat when his platoon was ambushed in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Marine Corporal Silva was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
The last time Erik visited his hometown, the 22-year-old Marine attended the town’s annual carrot festival and got a special blessing from his 72-year old grandmother, Rebeca Silva, who kissed him and said a prayer with him.
Erik was the youngest of four children and was the third sibling to serve in the United States Armed Forces with his older brother Isaac Silva serving a total of 12 years in the United States Air Force and the California Army National Guard while his older sister Gloria Silva served 10 years in the United States Navy.
Erik also had numerous uncles and aunts who have served honorably in the United States Armed Forces. Erik’s greatest accomplishments are numerous, yet include leading the Holtville Viking Band of Pride as the drum major. Outside of high school, Erik was involved in his church youth group, was an altar server, and when he wasn’t playing baseball, you could see him coaching with his best friends during little league.
Erik’s love for baseball went beyond coaching on the field–one day Erik came to see his nephew Ocean playing in a little league game when he noticed that there was a child that did not have a glove or cleats. The next week, when Erik came to visit from Camp Pendleton, California, he had a new pair of cleats and a brand new glove for that child.
Erik was loved and is missed by all in the community of the City of Holtville. There is not a day that goes by that his name is not mentioned by someone who lives there; his best friends still reside in the City of Holtville and they keep Erik’s memory alive. Erik is survived by his parents, his two older brothers, and an older sister.
Marine Corporal Erik H. Silva was just 22 years old and nearly six months short of completing his first enlistment before being honorably discharged to then seek a career with the Department of the California Highway Patrol; his love for God, family, country, and the United States Marine Corps was small in comparison as to who Erik was as a person.
God bless Erik and his family, and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for America's freedoms.
Organizer
Kim Hobkirk Vincent
Organizer
Holtville, CA
